Six people have died, and 10 others are missing after record rainfall triggered severe floods and landslides in Japan’s Ishikawa prefecture, causing widespread devastation. The cities of Wajima and Suzu, which are still recovering from a deadly earthquake in January, were among the hardest hit by the deluge. The downpour began on Saturday and continued until noon on Monday, inundating the region and prompting widespread evacuations.
On Sunday, the cities saw rainfall levels double the typical amount for the entire month of September. This led to dozens of rivers bursting their banks, cutting off roads, and isolating more than 100 communities across the prefecture. Among the casualties were two individuals found near a landslide-hit tunnel in Wajima, one of whom was a construction worker conducting road repairs. Additional victims included two elderly men and an elderly woman.
Japan’s meteorological agency issued its highest “life-threatening” alert level for Ishikawa on Saturday, downgrading it to a regular warning on Sunday. Authorities have urged continued caution as heavy rain was expected to last until at least noon on Monday.
The floods also affected temporary housing constructed for residents who had lost their homes during the devastating earthquake on January 1. That earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.5, killed at least 236 people, toppled buildings, and sparked a major fire. In Wajima, entire streets were submerged, and NHK footage revealed severe flooding across the city.
More than 40,000 residents in Ishikawa’s four cities, including Wajima, Suzu, and the town of Noto, were evacuated over the weekend. Additionally, another 16,000 people in the Niigata and Yamagata prefectures were advised to evacuate. Power outages affected about 4,000 households, leaving many without electricity as rescue efforts continued.
The region’s ongoing recovery from both the earthquake and the flooding is expected to take time, with authorities closely monitoring weather patterns and assisting displaced communities.
